Kaylee Gage

Hist 134

April 17, 2018

Religion/Morals and Ethics

As a historian of the ancient world, I learned and can apply from the history of my

ancient ancestors to my own role in contributing to and acting responsibly for the better society

that religion/morals and ethics have a big influence. Religion has a major role in ancient

societies, it gives order and brings people together as one. Although there are many different

religions, they all do the same thing as bringing order. The Etruscan religion is one that after

reading about, I found that they worshipped places, objects, ideas, and events. The Minoans

religion, although it is still sketchy, embraces nature and brings people together. And another

religion is Zoroastrian, which only pushes positive beliefs onto people, having them believe that

doing good things will only bring good things, having this belief brings people together on good

notes.

The religion of the Etruscans was thought to be based off of objects, ideas, places, and

events, which according to Mark Cartwright “were thought to affect or control everyday life”

(www.ancient.eu). This first example shows a hint of proof that religion has the biggest influence

on acting responsibility for the better society. Having a belief based off of ideas, places, and

objects, can and does control everyday life, it brings them together. Also having items that
control life, can bring people together, making a society stronger and making them all as one.

Being positive about life can also bring a society into a better responsibility, Mark Cartwright

also said that “ordinary folk would leave offerings at these temples sites to thank the gods for a

service done or in the hope of receiving one in the near future” (www.ancient.eu). This one

sentence in the article says that people would leave things for gods to thank him for the good that

he does to them, also they leave something so that more good comes to them in the future. When

people have good come to them, they only want more good to come to them, and when everyone

is happy and good, there can be no bad, this brings a society together making others happy and

religion playing a role in a better society.

The religion of the Minoans, is said to be sketchy but according to Mark Cartwright,

“natural forces and nature in general, manifested in such artworks as a voluptuous female

mother-earth goddess figure and make figure holding several animals” (www.ancient.eu). This

says that the society, because of the religion, gave women someone to look to, mother-earth,

while the men looked towards the animals. Mother-earth was able to have women be in control

of something, and the animals gave the men something to be in control of, when both come

together, the society is equal, and both men and women are working to make a better society

with responsibility.

The Zoroastrian religion pushes great beliefs onto people, making their society into one

positive community, making people work together to benefit everyone. “be among those who

renew the world…to make the world progress towards perfection”, “do the right thing because it

is the right thing to do, and then all beneficial rewards will come to you also” (www.ancient.eu).

Mark Cartwright also states that “there is only one path and that is the path of Truth”

(www.ancient.eu). When everyone is working towards perfection, they all have a responsibility
and that is be kind and be perfect. A society that works towards perfection and cares about doing

the right thing, and is held together by religion, makes for a strong community.

After finishing this course and all of the assignments and modules, I have come to the

conclusion that religion/morals and ethics have the biggest influence on contributing and acting

responsibly for making a better society. The Etruscan, Minoans, and Zoroastrianism religions

play the strongest role in making societies strong.